Written by

C. Trent Rosecrans
The Cincinnati Enquirer

After hitting just .243/.300/.331 over the first half of the season in his first year at Triple-A, Hamilton was able to have a short visit with his mother, who gave him a pep talk.

"First half, I put a lot of pressure on myself, I wasn't playing my game, I was going out there trying to think too much, I was playing too hard," Hamilton said in the Reds clubhouse on Monday. "I knew once I started relaxing and I'd play my game, it'd come together. After the first half, I got home, I talked ...